Linda Murray (1) (1913–2004)

Michelangelo was born in 1475 as the Renaissance was nearing its end and along with Leonardo and Raphael he provided the capstone of genius for that era. In Michelangelo's case his mastery spanned both painting and sculpture with the examples of the Sistine Chapel and the sculpture of David as two of his works that transcend the era as monuments to human civilization.
This biographical study highlights the important details of his life within the context of the society of his time. With more than 250 illustrations the book is an excellent introduction to one of the greatest minds of the era and greatest artists of all time.… (more)

The authors have "restricted the scope to the arts of painting, sculpture, and engraving in Western Europe and North America, and to a period beginning about the year 1300 and continuing up to the present day," because they are "almost totally ignorant of the arts of other periods and places." In that case, a different title would have been preferable. The emphasis is on technical terms, processes, and movements, rather than biographies, though there are many of these, which include a useful list of museums holding the artist's work. The Penguin edition contains "substantially the same" text as the fully illustrated 1965 Thames & Hudson edition. Entries contain succinct remarks, like this one about Edvard Munch: "He was friendly with Strindberg, and his art, though sometimes powerful, is always neurotic and frequently hysterical."… (more)